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I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my face neutral. As infuriating as it was to hear it, Leah’s spot-on assessment of Mariah validated everything for me. But pain still squeezed my chest.
“So, what was your first impression of Alex?” Liam asked, shifting everyone back on track. “Was he a good guy back in college?”
“Liam...” Leah playfully admonished.
“What?” he said, echoing her earlier tone. “I have to dosomechecking up on the man that’s marrying my little sister.”
I glanced from Liam to Alex, trying to decide how to answer. Despite everything, I replied with what I felt deep down.
“He was a good guy. I could tell from the moment I’d met him.”
Alex smiled and reached for his glass, his hand grazing my forearm as he retrieved it. The touch was brief but, paired with his dark eyes staring back at me, enough to release butterflies in my stomach—the same butterflies that had taken hold 11 years ago. This fucking roller coaster of emotions was really getting on my nerves.
“Sounds like you both made a good impression, then,” Liam said.
“Not as good as the one Brooke made at the carnival,” Alex said.
I narrowed my eyes.You wouldn’t.
He smiled, the glint in his eye silently replying,I would.
“Oh, now this I have to hear,” Liam said.
“No,” I cut in. “You really, really don’t.”
First of all, it was extremely embarrassing. Secondly, I wondered how the hell Alex would tell this story without revealing that we’d been at that carnival on a date.
“Come on, Brooke. It’s a great story.”
I cocked my head to one side. “Yeah, for you. You come out looking like a hero.”
Leah sat up in her chair. “Okay! Now I’m hooked. Spill, Sawyer.”
Alex rubbed his hands together like the evil villain in a Bond movie. I decided I might kill him for that.
“Okay, so the university hosted this carnival fundraiser. It filled the quad with everything you could think of for a carnival. Games, rides, concession stands, and, of course, a Ferris wheel.”
Lillian glanced furtively at her husband. “Dear, do you remember when Yale did that? As I recall, we had a pretty special night ourselves.”
Leah and Liam groaned in unison as Robert grinned and nodded.
“Oh, kids, stop,” Lillian said. “There’s nothing more romantic than a carnival.”
Alex darted his gaze to mine, and I quickly looked away.
“Anyway,” Alex said, just as happy to move on, I imagined. “So, there are tons of people at this carnival, and lines at every ride, except the Ferris wheel. So I convince Brooke that we should take a spin. She agrees, so I think we’re all set. We strap in, and then they start loading other riders, and we’re inching closer and closer to the top.” I groaned but he continued. “And when we finally get there, I look over at Brooke and—”
“I had my eyes shut, and I was holding onto the lap bar as if my life depended on it.”
“Oh no—” Leah began.
“Don’t tell me,” Liam said.
“Are you afraid of heights?” Lillian asked.
I let out a slow breath. “Terrified.”
“Then what on earth possessed you to get on a Ferris wheel?” Robert asked.
